Robles & Rosado

It seems Latinos are under attack from all sides these days. The White House thinks we're animals, Starbucks calls us beaners and some pendejo racist lawyer in New York City just can't bear to hear the loveliness that is Castellano — unless, of course, it's in his law practice. There you can spic it up to your hearts content. All billable hours, ya know. Be sure to hold onto to something sturdy because Mike Robles and Pedro Rafael Rosado are ready to shake the foundation!

Amara La Negra has spent her entire life in show business and she is singularly focused on becoming the LatinX equivalent of Beyoncé. The breakout star of VH1's 'Love and Hip Hop Miami' spoke to us just before the debut of the new reality series and she was candid about her struggles and her passion for performing. Also on the episode, Mike and Pedro discuss Kanye West's latest controversial comments, Michelle Wolf's performance at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, and flying chanclas in San Antonio.

Mike and Pedro have returned from the wilderness and are prepared to drop all-new episodes of the show. We are fully aware that we angered a lot of people in previous installments, and we'd like to say we won't do that anymore, but the truth is even in this brief conversation we probably offended one or more of you out there. We just can't help it. Saddle up vaqueros cuz...WE'RE BACK!

Her show was unceremoniously canceled by the ABC Broadcasting Network and Cristela Alonzo was understandably upset. It didn’t help matters that she was forced to deal with trolls hurling insults at her on Twitter. In a long and emotional blog post, the comedian laid bare how she felt about the lack of support her self-titled sitcom … Continue reading Stay Strong Cristela Alonzo →

It was a dramatic scene. Marilyn Mosby stood at a podium festooned with microphones that also sported a large emblem emblazoned with the scales of justice and the words “Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City”. She was there to announce charges of manslaughter and assault against 6 police officers accused of murdering 25 year old Freddie Gray. Ms. Mosby was … Continue reading Boxers, Politicians, and ‘Thugs’. Oh My! →

I never gave the devastation surrounding me as a kid a second thought. It seemed perfectly natural to have abandoned buildings and rubble strewn lots as playgrounds. The idea that I was living in a blighted and dangerous ghetto that could easily pass for any number of ruined European cities during World War II never once dawned … Continue reading Will ‘The Get Down’ on Netflix Be a Huge Letdown For Latinos? →

Mexico really does get blamed for everything. Ebola? It’s flooding into the U.S. from our southern border. Terrorism? Apparently ISIS, Al Qaeda and even the Houthi militants are streaming over from down Mexico way by the hundreds as I type this. Illegal drugs, guns, and undocumented aliens? Check, check and check. Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz? Yeah, … Continue reading Don’t Blame Mexico For Ted Cruz, Blame Canada →

‘The Real’ is a bland, vacuous syndicated talk show broadcast primarily on Fox affiliates and is hosted by five women of color. (Sad that a decade and a half into the 21st century this is still something so unique we see it as a triumph but we’ll take it). Finally a show that refuses to perpetuate negative stereotypes but instead … Continue reading Next On ‘The Real’: Brownface Minstrelsy →

Despite the long relationship the U.S. has enjoyed with the “Enchantress of the Caribbean”, Puerto Rico and its residents on the island and on the mainland remain a mystery to other Americans. As a public service, Robles & Rosado will help clear up any confusion for you and save you the time and exertion necessary to Google the … Continue reading Remember Folks, Puerto Rico Is America →

Longtime listeners know we catch a lot of heat for some of the things we say on the show and post on the blog. In an effort to be proactive, and in the interest of saving our time and yours, we offer this generic blanket statement to all Latin@s who feel an apology is more … Continue reading RR 24: Apologies Are Not Nearly Enough →

For this episode Mike and I revisit some of our favorite moments—and yours—from the first season of Robles & Rosado.  We hope you join us again in 2015 for more of our unique mix of humor and commentary. Wishing you all good health, happiness, and success!

Science has finally caught up to the fact that Robles and Rosado are almost perfect specimens of humanity. Don’t believe me? Just ask Lior Pachter, a UC Berkeley biologist. Mr. Pachter published a DNA study recently suggesting that “perfect humans” are most likely to be Puerto Rican. He also reveals that the “perfect human” may have been female … Continue reading RR 22: Cuba (Not Quite) Libre and Perfect Puerto Ricans →

After an almost 10 hour delay, prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch from St. Louis, Missouri announced that the grand jury investigating the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, decided not indict police officer Darren Wilson. The ruling set off a wave of protests and rioting in the city of Ferguson that has lasted several days. Mike and I discuss the … Continue reading RR 21: The Circus Comes to Ferguson, Missouri →

All this time we were aiming to be your garden variety troublemakers. During our interview with social entrepreneur and Latino community leader Elianne Ramos, Mike and I were confronted with the shocking revelation that we are both social media influencers. When a nationally recognized expert and one of the most influential Latinas in social media tells you you are … Continue reading RR 20: Social Media Powerhouse, Elianne Ramos →

This week we present a special edition of the Robles & Rosado experience. Our own Mike Robles interviews Tejano music superstar, the incomparable Stefani Montiel. Stefani Montiel recorded her full-length album debut at age nine and has gone on to earn six Grammy nominations over an illustrious career. Stefani’s latest album, Paraíso, continues her exploration into new musical territory while not … Continue reading RR Bonus: Tejano Music Superstar Stefani Montiel →

According to an article at BostInno.com I have a better chance at landing on the moon or starring in the role of Batman at your local multiplex than contracting the Ebola virus. There is a much greater chance that one of you reading this will (heaven forbid) suffer and die from influenza or heart disease than from … Continue reading RR 19: Ebola Makes Americans Panic and Blame Hispanics →

One of the best shows in television history ended one year ago this week when AMC aired the final episode of ‘Breaking Bad’, the critically acclaimed operatic crime drama set in  New Mexico. In honor of that anniversary actor, comic, and Albuquerque  native Steven Michael Quezada, who played DEA Agent Steven Gomez, joins us to … Continue reading RR 18: Steven Michael Quezada Never Broke Bad →

Rick Najera is not an activist. That’s not a shot at the actor-writer-director-producer and he’ll be the first to tell you. Rick is a man who is unafraid to speak his mind and is an artist who is pointing out the reality and vagaries of the Latino experience in America. Also a  playwright, a professional speaker and an … Continue reading RR 17: The Unforced Confessions of Rick Najera →

Rosie Perez is from old-school Brooklyn.  Not this new hipsterville nonsense they got going on there these days but the real-deal Brooklyn. She’s from the Brooklyn where you speak your mind and were always ready to defend your point of view. Ms. Perez will bring that old school Brooklyn sensibility to ABC Television’s long running talk … Continue reading RR 16: ‘The View’ Joins Team Rosie →

This week we present a special episode of our show and feature a very special guest. Mike and I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of a visit from comedian and actor Carlos Mencia. For the few of you reading this who don’t know who he is, Carlos Mencia is one of today’s most … Continue reading RR 15: Carlos Mencia Will Blow Your Mind →

We’d like to give Phil Griffin the benefit of the doubt and we desperately want to believe he wasn’t as insulting in person as he came across in pixels. In reports from the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists about his apology for this year’s Cinco de Mayo on-air racist shenanigans, the president of MSNBC sounded smug and … Continue reading RR 14: MSNBC Keeps Getting It Wrong →

Let’s play a game of “Fantasy Or Reality”.  I’ll offer up a scenario and you, dear reader, will decide if it really happened or whether I’m just spinning a fanciful tale. Here we go. The United States once accepted thousands of unaccompanied minors from Latin America and provided shelter and care in over 100 cities … Continue reading RR 13: Immigrant Archives and Hateful Tweets →

It was always a source of pride for many of us growing up, especially in the rough and tumble immigrant-heavy Bronx neighborhoods where I spent my formative years. I’ll bet almost everyone reading this can recite the last few lines of Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus”. You know, the one about giving us your tired and poor? Your … Continue reading RR 12: Yearning To Be Free? Not So Fast… →

Puto. It’s an ugly word to some. Ugly enough for FIFA to consider penalizing the team representing  Mexico at the World Cup because their fans chant it during matches in Brazil. Redskins. It’s an ugly word to some. Ugly enough for the United States Patent and Trademark Office to rescind federal trademark protections for the Washington Redskins (American) football team. … Continue reading RR 11: Sports, Baking and Political Correctness Possibly Run Amok →

Robles and Rosado are running a fever… a FIFA World Cup fever! Okay, that might be a huge overstatement as both Mike and I don’t even know what countries have actually qualified for the tournament. We do know that millions of people across the globe are besides themselves with anticipation for the quadrennial football extravaganza … Continue reading RR 10: FIFA World Cup Fever, Tackling Race in Comedy, and the Stereotype Game →

That was the rallying cry of the current president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Hugo Balta, as he and representatives of his organization took to Twitter to insult and belittle Robles & Rosado. They don’t like that we’re  keeping up the pressure on them for their refusal to answer questions about what plans they … Continue reading RR 09: No Invite, No Chorizo, No Peace! →

I was going to link to a clip of MSNBC “Way Too Early” anchor Thomas Roberts and producer and correspondent Louis Burgdorf torpedoing their reputations as serious journalists with their insipid Cinco de Mayo antics but I refused to harsh my mellow so instead I’ll post their apology: I wonder how long that Burgdorf kid had to … Continue reading RR 08: Feeling Like a Piñata at a KKK Rally →

What do Antonio Banderas, Eva Mendes, Cameron Diaz, Enrique Iglesias, Roselyn Sanchez and John Leguizamo have in common? Well, we know they are all Hispanic but did you know all of their significant others are white?  It’s almost a cliche these days but it seems that as soon as a Latino becomes a success in Hollywood they … Continue reading RR 07: I’m Latino and Successful. So Where the White Women At? →

According to reports Latinos are faring better financially than Blacks in the United States but in the race for income equality both minority groups have a long way to go to close the gap against Whites. A Santa Ana, California school cop puts crying teen in a choke-hold, then yells at witnesses to stop speaking Spanish. … Continue reading RR 06: The Bromance Continues →

The root verb of “Chingon” is a vulgarity but Mexicans understand most variations of the word to mean “badass”.  Pizza Patrón, a Texas-based restaurant chain that sells pizzas marketed toward Mexicans, is crying foul over what they feel is censorship as radio networks in the Lone Star state refuse to air ads for their new … Continue reading RR 05: 2 Million Deportations? Blame Thalia… →

Did you catch the Cohetes game last night?  What about the Espuelas? The Toros? NBA’s Latin Night promotion is front and center on Mike’s mind. While the professional basketball league claims it is addressing a need and owning up to its responsibilities to the Latino community Mike believes it’s really just all about the Benjamins. … Continue reading RR 04: Hey NBA, Just Feed Latinos the Rock →

Have you ever noticed what happens when you toss a single live crab into a bucket that has no lid?  The crab will kick itself into survival mode and climb out.  Now, what happens when you put more than one crab into the same bucket?  If one of the crustaceans makes an escape attempt the … Continue reading RR 03: Crabs In A Bucket Con Salsa →

Oh, and you too Mario Lopez. Your great physiques and smoldering good looks have raised the bar impossibly high for regular Jose’s like me and Mike Robles — and we resent it. In this episode we touch on many subjects but our focus is on how celebrities like Jennifer Lopez continue to perpetuate the “White Savior” … Continue reading RR 02: Thanks For Nothing William Levy →

In this new web radio series Emmy winning comedian Mike Robles and radio host and journalist Pedro Rafael Rosado give you their humorous, unique, and occasionally controversial take on the Latino Experience.  The focus in this inaugural episode is on the growing clamor from social media savvy bloggers calling for equal Latino representation on U.S. … Continue reading RR 01: Doing It For Ourselves →